2-0 sure is better than 0-2, but don't read too much into August football results

The NFL preseason is guaranteed to anger season-ticket holders who are forced to pony up regular-season prices for mostly meaningless exhibitions.It's also a given to produce injuries that derail a promising season before it even begins. (We'll miss watching you, Dion Lewis.)Another guarantee about the NFL's silly season: false hope.Two tweets during the Browns' rout of the Lions on Thursday night caught our attention.

The second tweet was from Daniel Jeremiah, an analyst for nfl.com and the NFL Network, and a former scout for the Browns, Ravens and Eagles: “Highest rated passers during 2012 preseason: 1) Ryan Perrilloux 2) Jerrod Johnson 3) Byron Leftwich 4) Richard Bartel 5) John Beck”Perrilloux and Johnson didn't throw a pass in the 2012 NFL regular season. The former is in the Canadian Football League, and the latter played in the United Football League last year.Leftwich compiled a 54.9 passer rating in two mostly ugly games for the Steelers last season, and Bartel and Beck didn't appear in a 2012 regular-season contest.

Does that discount Brandon Weeden's terrific start this summer?Of course not, but it should temper your enthusiasm at least slightly.Remember, the Browns started 2-0 in the 2012 preseason.They also won a pair of preseason games in 2001 (when they finished 7-9), 2002 (9-7), 2006 (4-12), 2009 (5-11) and 2010 (5-11).In 2004, '05 and '07, the Browns were 3-1 in the preseason. Those clubs finished 4-12, 6-10 and 10-6.Granted, there is a different feel to this year's team.It helps greatly that Pat Shurmur — the former head coach whose tenure was so comically bad it inspired a hilarious soundbite on The Fan's Kiley and Booms morning show every time Shurmur's name is mentioned — isn't calling the shots.The fans' increased confidence also stems from Holmgren's absentee leadership being replaced by Joe Banner, Alec Scheiner and Co.And if you're really drinking the preseason Kool-Aid, we leave you with this Thursday night tweet from Phil Savage, the former Browns GM and Ravens executive who now is the executive director of the Senior Bowl: “Last 5 Super Bowl winners and 7 of past 10 have won at least 2 #NFL preseason games. 46 of 60 playoff teams since '08 won 2+ (77%).”

Will the Monsters be next?

The Lake Erie Monsters, as we wrote yesterday, will play an outdoor game at Rochester on Dec. 13.I asked Sarah Jamieson, the Monsters' communications manager, if the team had ever discussed holding an outdoor game — whether it be at Progressive Field, Classic Park in Eastlake, All Pro Freight Stadium in Avon or another venue.Jamieson said an outdoor date is something the Monsters have discussed, but just in “casual conversation.” She said there is “nothing imminent,” but the organization is excited to see what it can learn from the winter game in Rochester.It's a great concept, and one that is becoming more popular in the American Hockey League.The outdoor game in Rochester will be the sixth in the AHL since 2010, and a bigger one will follow 17 days later.On Dec. 30, Comerica Park — home of the Tigers — will host a game between Grand Rapids and Toronto.You can follow me on Twitter for sports information, analysis and more stats from Phil Savage. (Wait, just follow Phil Savage for the latter.)

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